Eve Bunting, bestselling author of more than 250 books for young people in a career that spanned 50 years, died Oct. 1 in Santa Cruz, California, her publisher, HarperCollins, announced. She was 94.
Bunting’s books “ranged from charming, rhyming animal stories and Irish folk tales to more serious titles focused on socially conscious topics such as homelessness, displacement, and environmental concerns” and were translated into many languages, her publisher noted. Her latest, Alligators, Alligators, was published by Clarion Books in August 2023.
Bunting collaborated with folk musician and illustrator Eric Von Schmidt on her first book, The Two Giants, published in 1971.
Over the years, her work received numerous awards and accolades, including the Kerlan Award, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, and a PEN Los Angeles Center Special Achievement Award.
She was also given the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for her 1976 book One More Flight, the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1992 work Coffin on a Case, and the Regina Medal in 1997 from the Catholic Library Association.
Her 1994 book Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, was awarded a Caldecott Medal. A PBS production based on her 1990 book The Wall received a Peabody Award.
“Through these books and many more, Eve captivated readers with gentle, emotionally honest stories that reflected her warmth, humor, and deep respect for young people,” HarperCollins said. “Many of them are now considered classics.”
Born in Northern Ireland in 1928 and raised in the small town of Maghera, the daughter of a farmer/merchant and a postmistress, Bunting moved to California in 1958, where she began her literary career. She was a longtime member of the board of advisors for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Amy Reiter is a freelance writer.
